MAN Energy Solutions has landed a deal to convert the 15,000-TEU Hapag-Lloyd containership, MV Sajir, to dual-fuel operation so as to ply the route between Asia and north Europe via the Suez canal.
The Hapag-Lloyd pilot project is scheduled to commence next year when the five-year old vessel will spend 90 days in dock. The DNV-GL approved gas-storage system will occupy an area equivalent to 350 containers, including the pipework between storage and engine.
MAN claims that the pilot project will involve the conversion of an existing heavy fuel oil (HFO) burning MAN B&W 9S90ME-C engine to a dual-fuel MAN B&W ME-GI (gas injection) prime mover, capable of operating on both HFO and LNG. The retrofit will be performed at the Chinese Hudong/HRDD shipyard, reported LNG Industry, Farnham, UK.
MAN Energy Solutions chief sales officer Wayne Jones said: 'We are seeing great interest in this project from the industry as a whole. This is an excellent showcase for the conversion of a mega container vessel to LNG and the potential benefits for the market is huge.
'With this announcement, MAN Energy Solutions is once again at the forefront of technology with our ability to execute LNG conversions for both four-stroke and two-stroke engines.'
Hapag-Lloyd managing director fleet management Richard von Berlepsch added: 'By converting the SAJIR, we will be the first shipping company to retrofit a container ship of this size to LNG propulsion.
'With this unprecedented pilot, we hope to learn for the future and to pave the way for large ships to be retrofitted to use this alternative fuel.'
WORLD SHIPPING
The Hapag-Lloyd pilot project is scheduled to commence next year when the five-year old vessel will spend 90 days in dock. The DNV-GL approved gas-storage system will occupy an area equivalent to 350 containers, including the pipework between storage and engine.
MAN claims that the pilot project will involve the conversion of an existing heavy fuel oil (HFO) burning MAN B&W 9S90ME-C engine to a dual-fuel MAN B&W ME-GI (gas injection) prime mover, capable of operating on both HFO and LNG. The retrofit will be performed at the Chinese Hudong/HRDD shipyard, reported LNG Industry, Farnham, UK.
MAN Energy Solutions chief sales officer Wayne Jones said: 'We are seeing great interest in this project from the industry as a whole. This is an excellent showcase for the conversion of a mega container vessel to LNG and the potential benefits for the market is huge.
'With this announcement, MAN Energy Solutions is once again at the forefront of technology with our ability to execute LNG conversions for both four-stroke and two-stroke engines.'
Hapag-Lloyd managing director fleet management Richard von Berlepsch added: 'By converting the SAJIR, we will be the first shipping company to retrofit a container ship of this size to LNG propulsion.
'With this unprecedented pilot, we hope to learn for the future and to pave the way for large ships to be retrofitted to use this alternative fuel.'
WORLD SHIPPING